never fluent in last pair, mistake and lost touch 6th, rallied into 3rd and mistake 3 out, no chance with 1st 2
took keen hold, tracked leader, led after 2nd until 4 out, chased winner until before 3 out, weakened soon after
led until after 2nd, chased leader, in front again approaching 4 out, joined 2 out, stayed on to assert from last
tracked leaders, closer in 3rd at 5th, 2nd going well before 3 out, challenged next, every chance last, outpaced run-in
mistake 1st, pulled hard in rear, plugged on from 2 out, never on terms
chased leading pair until 5th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out, tailed off
SOUTHERN SAM had some very smart novice form last season. He’ll probably be going over fences sooner rather than later but can pick up a couple of hurdle wins before that, starting here. Nico de Boinville rides Royal Reel, who has had just one run in a bumper, rather than Mr Woody so he’s likely to prove the pick of the Henderson pair. Staged Engagement showed promise last year and there was nothing wrong with his second at Carlisle after a break so he can’t be ignored.
Mr Woody (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 5f out, lost place 4f out, well beaten over 2f out, 11th of 15, dist behind Eritage (11-9) at Wincanton 1m 7f (5) gd in Apr.
Royal Reel 9-4 (11-2) Tracked leader until over 12f out, stayed handy, pushed along briefly 5f out, green over 3f out, outpaced and no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 8, 6 1/4l behind Stormin Norman (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Southern Sam 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway on wide outside chasing leaders approaching 3 out, kept on run-in, not pace to threaten, 5th of 18, 4 3/4l behind Third Wind (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Staged Engagement (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up behind, driven before 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd approaching last, ridden out flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Whoshotthesheriff (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr.
Caviciana 100-1 (11-0) Pulled hard, held up towards rear on outside, some headway after 4 out, never reached leaders, weakened after next, 8th of 10, dist behind Hotter Than Hell (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in May.
Influential Lady (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went right 3rd, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, dist behind Sixty's Belle (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (3) gs in May.
